Beating machine



' April N. J. RI Emu.- 2,036,502

BEATING MACHINE Filed June 29, 1934 INVENTORS. NEWLLE JP/C/liva;

THE/2 ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 7, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BEATING MACHINE Neville J. Rich and Alfred E. Hunt, San Francisco, Calif.

3 Claims.

Our' invention relates to beating machines, and more particularly toa machine for beating flong against a form to produce a matrix.

The broad object of our invention is to pro- 5 vide a beating machine which will produce a superior matrix. A

A more specific object of our invention is to provide a machine which permits an operator to exercise his skill and judgment in beating the m flong into the face of the form.

Another object of our invention is to provide a machine of the character described by which an operator may accurately control the application and concentrationof the beating, whereby the i6 flong may be fully driven into the form to produce a matrix which is a complete and faithful replica of the form.

A further object of our invention is to provide a machine which is flexibly constructed and easily manipulated.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantagasome of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of our invention. It is to be understood that we do not limit ourselves to this disclosure of species of our invention, as we may adopt variant embodiments thereof within the scope of the claims.

Referring to the drawing:

'30 Figure 1 is a side view, partly in section and partly in elevation, showing a beating machine embodying the improvements of our invention; portions of the supporting arm being omitted to shorten the view.

Figure 2 is a plan view showing the flexible mounting of the supporting arm and the extended positions of the arm over a plurality of form holding beds.

In tei ns of broad inclusion, the matrix forming machine embodying our invention comprises a bed for holding the form against which the flong is to be beaten. A beating arm, mounted for reciprocating movement, is provided, and is arranged above the table to drive against the fiong on the form. Means are provided for reciprocating the beating arm, and a mounting is provided whereby the arm may be moved transversely of the bed and over the face of the form. 50 A handle is also preferably provided, by which the operator may effect the transverse movement to shift the position of the beating arm over the face of the form, and a trigger is pref- .erably provided adjacent the handle for con- 5 trolling the reciprocating means, Means are also preferably provided for adjusting the beating arm toward and away from the bed.

In greater detail, our invention relates to the making of stereotype plates, and more particularly to the beating machines employed in the .5 process of making the matrix used for casting the plates. Briefly, the method of making stereotype plates comprises placing a mat of formable material, known as flong, on the face of a form having the typography desired in the final 10 plate. The flong is then beaten downwardly into the face of the form to mold the mat. The resulting matrix is then placed in a casting box, into which molten metal is poured. The plates thus cast, after being dressed, are then ready for .15 the press.

One of the most important operations in this process of making stereotype plates is that of forming the matrix, as all imperfections in this mat carry into the plate and show up in the final :2 print. If the print is to be perfect,-with the blacks smooth and dense without mottle, and with all tones and shadings present in their true and. delicate values,then the matrix must be a faithful replica of the form. This perfection 5 in the matrix depends upon the efficacy of the beating operation. A uniform beating over the face of the form is undesirable, since certain areas require a more concentrated beating to fully drive the flong into conformity with the typography of the form. The ideal beating machine is one which permits an operator to exercise his skill and judgment in controlling the application and concentration of the beating over the face of the form, so that he may bring out the proper values of the form in the matrix. Our improved beating machine permits of such control by an operator.

Referring particularly to Figure 1, the beating machine embodying our invention comprises a' table or bed 2 for holding the form 3 and overlying flong 4. An upright standard 6 is positioned alongside the bed 2 and carries a supporting arm I overhanging the bed 2. This arm provides support for the working head 8 of our machine.

The working head 8 is a pneumatic reciprocating mechanism, and may be of any suitable construction. In the type of air hammer shown for purposes of illustration the cylindrical shank portion 9, housing the reciprocating stem II, is secured in upright position in a suitable clamp l2 formed at the outer end of the supporting arm 1.

A flexible air duct l3 serves to deliver air to the mechanism. The portion of the shank 9 above,,5

the supporting arm I may conveniently be gripped by the hand of the operator, and provides the handle of our machine. The trigger M for controlling the admission of air to the reciprocating mechanism, by reason of its position alongside the handle 9, may conveniently be moved by the operators fingers.

A brush I6 having relatively stiff bristles is mounted on the lower .end of the stem .orplunger II, and these parts, depending from the supporting arm I, comprise the beating arm of our machine. As the stem ll of the working head 8 reciprocates, the bristles of the brush is move into and out of engagement with the fiong "4. This beating action of the brush operates to drive the deformable material of the flong into conformity with the surface typography of the form 3. I

In order to adjust the downward limit of movement of the brush [6 relative to the bed 2, means .areprovidedtfor adjusting the supporting arm vertically. This'issaccornplished by mounting the :arm I?! 'on.a:.s1eeve .11 which is slidable on the standard '5. The position of the sleeve is controlled by an ,adjusting screw l8 journalled in the ttopzplate l9 rof the sleeve and threaded into the standard 6. A hand wheel 2| on the upper end of :thescrew 118 provides means for making'the adjustment. Rotation :between the sleeve and standard 'is prevented by a key 22 seated in the sleeves-and slidable along the standard. A screw 23bearing against the key 22 provides means for ,locking the sleevein a selected position of ad- *justmen't.

"Means are provided in conjunction with the mounting of the working head 8 whereby the operator :may shift the brush it into any desired position over the form 13. This is accomplished iby pivo'tally mounting the supporting .arm von the sleeve IT by means of a suitable rpivotpin Z4, and by jointing the supporting arm adjacent its intermediate portions. The intermediate joint, inorder to give added flexibility, :comprises a short hinge section 26 pivotally con- :nected to the two arm sections by means of pivot pins i2'l. 'Thisknuc'kle-joint permits the'operator :tokeepthe brush l6 lined up with his work iwhile 'he is shifting the brush about on the form 3. "The pivotaxes about the several pins 24 and 227 are all substantially vertical, which arrangement constrains the working head, or rather a point thereon,rto movement in a plane substantially parallel with the'face of the form 3. This -feature-of the mounting insures that the brush "[6 will always be in proper vertical relation with respect to the form, irrespective of how the operator moves the brush over the face of the'form.

With our machine an operator has at all times absolute control of the position of the brush on the flong 4 which overlies the form 3, and be cause of the nature of the brush mounting is able to move the brush in any direction'laterally to change the beating position. As has already beenpointed out, this control is important since it permits the operator to exercise his skill and Judgment in controlling the applicationand concentration of the heating over the face of the .iorm, .and enables .him to bring out the proper values of the ,form in the matrix. Because of .the irregular typography of the form, certain areas require amore concentrated beating to fully drive the flong into conformity with the form. This theoperatorcan do with our improved beating machine.

The matrix produced by our machine is a faithful replica of the form. Legible and beautiful typography is preserved, with each letter face fully accounted for and its cups and side walls, as well as the spaces,.being a true matrix of each original type. Solids or blacks are reproduced smooth and dense, without mottling or showing a grain pattern. Line etchings will have retained their true and delicate values. Ha1ftones will matrix with the most extraordinary degree of value. Full, half, quarter and eighttones will be retained. All the delicate tones and shadings of the half-tones will be maintained, according to the dots in the original. By the particular suspension of the brush Hi the machine is readily manipulated and the beating operation easily and rapidly carried out. Furthermore, :the pneumatic reciprocating mechanism yields a .cushioned blow, and eliminates any crushing action or injury to the type.

.As .shown in..:Figue 2, the machinemay be mounted :with: its-central supportingJst-andardpositioned ibetween a pair .ofbedshaving their upper surfaces lyingin ;a common ;:plane. .By .thi'siarrangement the working head 8 of :our machine may swing from one table to the :.other. This dual arrangement permits an operator to be beating atone table'while 'a new formiisibeing-set up on the other table. Asoon as one matrix is completed the beating head may be shifted'over and'anew beating operation started immediately.

The movement ofthe working head is of course made possible by'the flexibility of the air duct l3 which may 'be suitably suspended so as not to interfere with the workman. As shown in Figure 1, a valve 21, preferably a needle valve to give close control, is interposed inthe'air line, where-.

by the operator may regulate 'the'amount of air admitted'to the'working head. This air control eifects the reciprocating mechanism andpermits the operator to regulate the strength of beat. Such regulation is desirable, because some matrices require more forceful beating than others. An air gauge28 maybe incorporated in the line to register the air being admitted to the hammer. Suitable lubricating means 29 are also preferablyprovided for the reciprocating mechanism.

The term form is used throughout the specification and claims as being any impression making element, and may be a type form, pattern, photoengravlng or other relief printing plate. The term bed is also used in its'broader sense as ,a supporting surface, and may conveniently be an apron of a steam or electrically heated matrix drying table.

We claim:

1. .A machine for beating fiong againsta form to produce a matrix, comprising a bedfor holding the form, a movable working head overlying said bed, mounting means for confining the movement of the head to a plane substantially parallel with said bed, a beating arm mounted for reciprocating movement on the head and adapted to drive against the flong on said form, pneumatic means for reciprocating the beating arm, a handle by which an operator may move the working head to shift the beating arm over the face of said form, and a trigger adjacent the handle for controlling the reciprocating means.

2. A machine for beating flong against a form to produce a matrix, comprising a bed for holding the form, a movable supporting arm overhanging the bed and terminating in a working head movable in a plane substantially parallel with said bed, a beating arm mounted for reciprocating movement on the head and adapted to drive against the flong on said form, pneumatic means on the working head for reciprocating the beating arm, a flexible duct connected with the head for feeding air to said reciprocating means, and a handle connected with the supporting arm and by which an operator may move the head to shift the beating arm over the face of said form.

3. A machine for beating flong against a form to produce a matrix, comprising a pair of beds arranged for supporting forms, the surfaces of said beds lying in a common plane, a jointed supporting arm pivotally mounted at one end thereof for movement in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the beds, a working head upon the free end of the arm and movable thereby to any point above the surface of the forms on either bed, a beating arm mounted for reciprocating movement upon the head and adapted to drive against the flong on said forms, pneumatic means for reciprocating the beating arm, and a handle by which the working head and'beating arm may be shifted over the face of a form upon one bed while a second form and flong are being set up upon the other bed.

NEVILLE J. RICH.

ALFRED E. HUNT. 

